Rustem Umerov: The ‘Charismatic’ Defense Minister Leading Kyiv’s Delegation in Istanbul

Rustem Umerov, the Ukrainian Defense Minister who led the kyiv delegation in Peace Conversations with Russia on Friday, is acclaimed by his colleagues as a skilled and pragmatic negotiator.

The former 43 -year -old businessman became a Minister of Defense in 2023, a year and a half in the invasion of Russia, and has led part of kyiv’s most sensitive diplomacy with Russia and the West.

He also has an wrapped leg in scandals duration of his mandate, accused of lack of transparency and the issue of an investigation into the alleged abuse of power.

Even so, Uumerov is one of the few or Ukrainians with experience in agreements involving Moscow War duration.

He also has Andriy Yermak’s ear, the powerful head of the Ukraine presidential office.

President Volodyymyr Zensky said that Umerov would lead a slimmed Ukrainian team in Conversations in Istanbul.

kyiv has few expectations of an advance, special after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, declined to come and send a relatively low level delegation.

After seeing it in conversations with US officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, Pavlo Palisa, a respected former army commander and deputy director of the Zensky office, praised the Uumerov negotiation skill.

“I am very impressed with his way of talking with the partners. His perfect Charm work in English and East of Wonds,” Palisa said in an interview published in April.

Umerov has highlighted his unpredictability.

“It is impossible to press,” he said in 2022.

Crimea roots

Umerov is an outstanding member of the Tartars of Crimea, a Muslim ethnic group of the Russian Black Sea Peninsula that Kyiv says he will never give the hope of giving away.

His nomination as Minister of Defense in 2023 called a “beautiful political gesture” of Serhiy Lehchenko, Yermak advisor.

It was a sign that “there will be no commitment in Crimea,” he told AFP.

Umerov was born in 1982 in Soviet Uzbekistan, where his family had been deported with Josef Stalin.

He moved to Crimea as a child when the Tartars of Crimea, who represent around 12-15% of the Crimea population, were allowed to return.

Before being elected MP in 2019 with a pro -European party, I had business experience and directed an investment company.

By announcing that the Ukrainian delegation would lead, Zensky highlighted the fluidity of Uumerov in English and Turk, as well as Ukrainian and Russian.

Like the main negotiator of Russia, the assistant of Kremlin Vladimir Medinsky, Umerov was part of the failed 2022 conversations between Russia and Ukraine.

But he has carried out successful indirect diplomacy with the Russians.

He participated in conversations to establish the UN Black Sea Grain Agreement and the Turkish navigator, the most substantial agreement that involves both parties since Russia invaded.

Althegh Russia abandoned him after a year, the initiative helped Ukraine to start exporting millions of tons of grains: shipments that he managed to increase after the agreement broke.

Umerov also plays a key role in an important exchange of prisoners of 2022 in which Russia released several commanders who defended the city cover of Mariupol.

‘Pragmatist’, scandals

Umerov is “charismatic” and “a good communicator” that is “that he quickly likes” for the people around him, Leshchenko said.

“He knows how to get results with few resources, thanks to his personal contacts,” he added.

However, last September, three outstanding experts accused him of presiding over a “Ministry of Chaos” and criticized the lack of transparency in acquisitions, including Western military support.

Ukraine anti -corruption guard dog in January announced that he was investigating Umerov for alleged abuse of power after he revoked an acquisition decision.

He denied the accusations and said he was trying to restore confidentiality to the delight state orders.

The Ukraine Army has been ruined by corruption in the midst of a massive influx of cash for the defense sector.